Friday, October 11, 2013

YOU AND I

Suggested Reading: Psalm 77

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near the modern city of Caesarea. The ancient Caesarea Maritima city and harbor was built by Herod the Great about 25-13 BC. The city was populated through the late Roman and Byzantine eras. A good place to start meditating on God's work, as our key verse suggests, is by observing nature. This sea scape proclaims the greatness of our creator God!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Psalms 77:12-13

I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great as our God?

 

Dr. John Hull, our new Crossroads global leader, earned his doctorate from one of the most highly respected theological colleges in the world, Gordon Conwell Seminary of South Hamilton, Massachusetts (click here to learn more about this excellent centre of learning). John shares his insights with us on Psalm 77 here on today’s blog. Here’s John…

God is not embarrassed by the transparency of our prayers. In Psalm 77, the writer is transparent and authentic in his desperate need for God — and in his own inability to live godly apart from holy God. The writer’s humanity asks the same kind of questions we often ask: Will the Lord accept me or reject me? Will I ever expect His favor again when things seem so hard? Is He withholding His compassion because He’s angry at me? Amazing isn’t it? The transparent thoughts of ancient and modern man seem to have little variance.The Psalmist presses on though, beyond the questions, the doubts and the insecurities toward peace and victory! His process? He doesn’t focus on life’s challenges nor upon his own fallen state. Instead, he finds peace and comfort by focusing on the very character of God. He recharges his spirit by focusing on God as holy, powerful, and purposeful. The take-away of Psalm 77 is when one is overwhelmed by life and/or fear, focus on the perfection of God, the wisdom of God and the inability of God to ever do wrong. It’s within the character of God that we find peace within the character of our lives. -John

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord I thank You for the privilege of praying daily with all who share prayer needs in response to this blog. I ask for blessings and “Yes” or “No” or “Wait” answers to prayer for each person. In Jesus Name I come before Your throne of mercy. I pray Your blessing upon Your servant John Hull. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I want all our blog partners to get to know John Hull better. This is why I’ve asked him to participate in the blogs of yesterday and today. He and his wife Sharon are now living in an apartment just a few buildings over from Norma-Jean and me here in Burlington. John will be hosting the daily 100 Huntley Street telecasts for two weeks starting November 12th. Ron and Ann will be helping Norma-Jean and me to lead a great group of people in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land during those days. Moira Brown, John Hull, and perhaps Dr. Jerry Johnson, will be providing exciting and in-depth content. Check out 100 Huntley Street TV! (click here for more information). I also want to make an observation about yesterday’s reading. In Psalm 76 Asaph focuses on God and repeats the word “You” (God) several times. Then Asaph switches to the word, “I,” and repeats it a dozen times in the first 12 verses of Psalm 77. No wonder he is discouraged! He is focusing on himself. But he finally gets it right! Our key verse is the turning point. Eleven times in the last 10 verses of Asaph’s hymn he focuses back on God with the words “You” or “Your.” No wonder he is optimistic about life once again! I needed the encouragement from John Hull today, plus my own meditations on the Psalms. I’m ready to head back to the treatment centre in Toronto, using the GO Train and transferring to the TTC subway at Union Station. I leave home here in Burlington at 6:15 a.m.

Yours with thankfulness, meditating on God, and joining our prayers together,

David

 

30 thoughts on “Friday, October 11, 2013

  1. We deprive ourselves of appreciating the character and nature of God when tuned solely into our own beings. It is an easy way to get lost and disorientated in this world. Thank you for your commentary, Dr. John Hull.
    We will be praying for your treatment today David, as you prepare for the journey to the Holy Land. Please take everything in stride! Lot’s to look forward to as we follow along! Have a great day, to all!

  2. Father God
    I pray for David that where ever he goes you would sound him with your love
    as you prepare him for the journey ahead also pray that you will heal David
    In Jesus name
    Amen
    ( Remember David ( I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me) Phil 4:13)

  3. May God be with you David. You are an inspiration and a Blessing to me and your prayers and personal thoughts on your blog give encouragement when I really need it. God Bless you and your family.

  4. Thank you Dr. John for sharing with us and we can see your input will add much to our already wonderful insightful blog.

    My prayers go with you Pastor David, for safety in travel and through your treatments. God is always by your side, as you already know, and we, your blog partners love and support you in prayer. Make sure you rest after your treatments.

    None is greater than OUR GOD? HE IS ABLE. Blessings.

  5. Lord, we thank you that You are going to be with David today as he goes for treatment. Thank you both, David and John Hull for an insightful blog. Thank you Lord for answering all the prayers of my fellow bloggers. Amen!

  6. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit we are prone to make wrong choices , We want to be led by the Holy Spirit in all we do and say ,without God we can do nothing , so we give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable as our reasonable service .If God vould use a donkey to speak through He can use whosoevrr is willing to be used .
    A living vessel
    We must be
    To be used
    For his glory
    A shining light
    I want to be
    To have him say
    Come in to my rest
    You servent well done

  7. Hello David— I do want to thank you for your faithfulness each day!
    Would it be possible to share some more hymns on your blogs? The ones that you did share were wonderful ! Praise God! I am praying that God will heal you each and every new day: Thank you in Jesus Name! Amsey Martin

  8. I am thankful that you planned to take the GO – I think that transport is less apt to be tied up. There was an accident early this a.m. (going West though). We were caught up in the lengthy investigation of a fatal one yesterday and we were late for our appointment. I do pray that God will be strengthening you during your treatment. It was encouraging to hear David Jeremiah’s testimony on Huntley St today and his healing from a potentially fatal form of cancer – an encouragement for us. God bless you David and may you sleep well tonight and be strengthened for your upcoming trip.

    • Doreen
      I have been praying for you about “the risk of surgery” and “the unwanted side affects” you mentioned the other day. I am waking up and just praying one word, “Doreen” and off to sleep I go. This morning I prayed, “O Lord, touch her life – provide guidance & peace”… and told the Lord I would send you this email. You are safe in the hands of the ONE who loves you! Samuel

  9. I recently have noticed that my attention is more on worldly things than the the past few years. In this, it is not so much my problems but other things and it is like being tempted by a lifeless thing away from life that Jesus said we should choose. Not that I am in great love with worldly things but it is good that God lets me see the truth. One of the other commenters observed awhile ago that when Peter paid attention more to the waves than Jesus, he began to sink. Whether this also be about sickness or new clothes, this is also true. People need clothes and people get sick but we should not be deceived away from Jesus by either of these matters. Still, everyone is human (except angels and demons and God and animals etc).

    • I often find myself in such situations too but I am grateful that I actually notice it when things are going the wrong direction, but by His grace, I always confess ryt away and ask Him to redirect my course. It shall be well with us all and the good Lord will help us endure to the end:) stay blessed

  10. Dear David
    May the Peace of God be with you as you travel to your destination, and His angels guard over you. I pray the treatment you will be receiving be covered with the Blood of Jesus Our Lord and Redeemer, His healing power flow through you.
    In the mighty Name of Jesus.

    Irene

  11. My prayers are with you as you go through treatment. I have been refusing to accept the cancer (mesothelioma) that has been Attacking me for over four years. The treatments are very difficult and very hard on our bodies. At present I am stable and thank God every day for his favour. What a blessing to wake up every morning and be able to praise his name. God bless and continue to lean on the great healer. A verse that meant a lot to me is Jeremiah 29:11.
    Forty eight years ago I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The doctor then called me his miracle patient and again in the present case, my doctor called me his miracle patient. Only through the grace of God am I here today.

  12. Heavenly Father we thank you for giving renewed strength to Pastor David M. once more today as he undergoes treatment . Thank you Jesus for being right there in every step of his recovery , looking forward for him to renew and to rejoice in the Holy Land along with the fellow saints .

    Thank you Pastor John Hull for your added insight to the blog I truly appriciate it and looking forward to your upcoming telecast on 100 Huntley Street in November .

    Have a blessed day everyone .
    xxxx Carole.

  13. Thank you Father for your presence with David as he trusted you during this treatment. David, you are an example to all of us as to how to trust God when we go through all kinds of trials. Your blogs are always inspiring and encouraging – Reynold’s pictures are awesome as well. Comments by bloggers are also appreciated. May God strengthen you, Norma Jean, Ron and Ann during this trip to Israel, and use you to encourage all who travel with you to trust God more,
    in spite of trials they might be going through. God’s promise “He will NEVER leave you or forsake you” is so comforting and gives us hope.

  14. Dear friends , Our God is an awesome God is an Awesome , These word keep going through my mind as a song ….and He will never leave us nor forsake us….
    what a wonderful promise is that. David my prayers are with you, as you go through this time of treatments may the Lord give you a healing from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Be healed in the name of Jesus….Thank you Dr. Hall for your comments , may the Lord Bless you…..R…

  15. Our days begin early here on the farm in eastern New Brunswick, as I got up this morning, I pictured you at your computer and thanked GOD for your faithfulness. May GOD richly bless you and heal you this day. Amen

  16. Psalms 77:13. Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?

    Now I ask, what doctor is greater than Our Doctor??
    Lord I believe You can Heal Rev. David Mains with just one word or touch! He doesn’t need to go through all this treatment he is going through.
    Just like you spoke to him to, ” speak healing in to the life of a child that was born with a hole in the heart, and it was so”, strengthen His faith again, to speak healing to his health this minute and thank You Lord, for You said in Your word, ” if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, you shall move mountains:) thank You Lord for it shall b soo! Amen

  17. I knoow this if off topicc but I’m looking into starting my own blog and
    was wondering what all is needed to get set up?
    I’m assumiing having a blog like yours would cost a pretry penny?
    I’m not very internet savvy so I’m not 100%
    certain. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Kudos

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